Borno IDPs: Sema Boss Storms Bama, addresses food shortages

Borno IDPs: Sema Boss Storms Bama, addresses food shortages

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Director General State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA),Yabawa Kolo has reiterated commitment to continue discharging Humanitarian activities in the State. 

She stated this recently when she led a Management team of the Agency to Bama internally displaced persons (IDPS) in Bama to evaluate progress made by partners in keeping the people alive.

Yabawa Kolo said the visit was also part of SEMA’S routine schedule to resettled communities to see the condition of returnees as well to assess the level of displaced persons returning especially women and children who had been in captivity of insurgents for many years.

While addressing newsmen in Bama the Director General noted that the visit was basically aimed ” at providing more assistance to cushion the hardship of the entire camp residents and returnees.”

She added that the mandate of SEMA was to take charge of all the needs of the IDPs and other vulnerable people and to allow humanitarian  partners to support them with the supervision of the Agency. 

The DG promised to continue supporting the IDPs with the back-up leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum who has been supporting  SEMA in all its activities and working round the clock to see that permanent peace returns to Borno. 

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The DG SEMA had a crucial meeting with Humanitarian partners also emphasized on collaboration in discharging their activities and to avoid duplication of duties. 

Hajia Kolo also said that Bama, Gwoza and Damboa had a lot of humanitarian activities stressing that there was need for the partners to put more efforts in complementing the state Government in order to fill the obvious gaps.

Hajia Kolo implored them to expand their activities especially on water and sanitation (WASH ) Health, Education as well as Shelters due to the influx of displaced persons that were hitherto in insurgent captivity adding that she had already discussed with the leadership of the United Nations in that regard with a promise to work closely with all the Humanitarian agencies at any time. 

Responding,some representatives of the humanitarian bodies , Abdulkadir Gambo of FHI, Fatima Abba of Intersos, and Daniel John  said there was need for expansion of the camp due to congestion considering the large number of IDPS.

Responding to all their requests and challenges,the DG SEMA promised to look into all their needs as soon as possible even after inspecting their Kitchen to see the Quality of food being served.

Earlier Hajia Kolo had  paid homage to the Shehu of Bama Kyari Ibn Umar Elkanemi where she briefed him on her visit and solicited for Royal blessings in carrying out her duties.

Secretary of the Emirate Council, Makinta Usman who represented the Shehu thanked the DG SEMA and her team for the visit, adding that the visit was a clear indication of the exemplary leadership qualities of the SEMA boss especially for recognizing the traditional institution.

He appealed to her to collaborate with the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and other Humanitarian bodies to provide more assistance to the displaced persons in Bama and those in host communities due to the influx of people on a daily basis.

On the convoy of the SEMA DG were Director of Research planning and Statistics Ali Abdullahi Isa, and that of Operation and Relief Abdullahi Suleiman and Adamu Maina.

Bama was recently reported to be having issues with feeding of the existing IDPS coupled with the alleged influx of wives and children of repentant insurgents who throng the IDP camps on a daily basis.

A breakdown of the total population of IDP’s as  at 11th April 2022, include the following: IND-74,828, HHs -23,652 Men-11,135, Women-18, 868, Boys- 20,974 and Girls -21,851

Borno IDPs: Sema Boss Storms Bama, addresses food shortages